Selling Science

Selling Science Richard Gallagher's commentary1 focuses on doing a better job of selling science to the layman, so that the scientific community can continue to pursue its various interests. Doesn't marketing science like a new model of automobile, by identifying "members of the research community who are knowledgeable about the issues, sympathetic to them, and confident in front of a camera," strike anyone as a bit bizarre? The ethical and moral implications of one's work should not be seen as something to be overcome with a better sales campaign, any more than the wider implications of our personal behavior or any other undertaking should be ignored in everyday life. For scientists, our work often is our life (to a frightening extent). Behaving like a responsible member of the community except when in the confines of the laboratory is not an acceptable option. Heidi Hoff, DVM Quebec, Canada Hoff & Fortier Hoff.fortier@sympatico.ca *** Your editorial1 is a good start for the process of dialogue between science and the "rest of humanity" - perhaps even for a dialogue between scientists and their own humanity? A good attitude might also be a reasonable humility that recognizes the fact that science itself has limits that are, in fact, crucial to its own self-definition. Science can only appraise reality from a particular perspective and show us varied means of physical action based on that perspective. It cannot (and most scientists agree) address the questions of value and subjective meaning that are crucial to any true vision of progress (or realization). Kirk Hughey Antony, France Kirkparis1@aol.com *** I couldn't help but experience some déjà vú when I read Gallagher's piece about public reaction to recent advances in reproductive technology.1 Unfortunately, this sort of thing is nothing new. Animal "rights" activists continue their quest to undermine biomedical research. Advances in reproductive technologies frequently to spawn questions from both within and outside of the scientific community. Funding allocations from the federal government draw criticism from scientists and the public alike. We must realize that such questions and criticisms are not going to go away. Actually, every scientist should welcome such inquiries and respond proactively to them. Educating the public about science is an age-old problem that dates back decades if not centuries. These are challenging times in the fields of biomedicine and scientists must realize that the questions and concerns raised will help to shape the future of this work. Scientists must anticipate and respond to such discussions and debates and use these opportunities to help educate the public so that they may make informed decisions. The questions will not go away. While it would be nice to assemble a panel of scientists, as Gallagher suggests, that could speak to each controversy or ethically challenging issue when it arises, the reality is that no single group could be qualified for such a task. Instead, educating the public about science is a task, indeed a critical obligation, that falls to each one of us. Talk about your science to your family, friends, neighbors, or anyone who asks you. Anticipate the questions and controversies so that you need not shy away from them. We simply cannot afford to let anyone other than the scientists define or direct the future of scientific research and the job falls to every single one of us to do so. Elizabeth Jansen, PhD Macalester College St. Paul, MN jansen@macalester.edu 1. R. Gallagher, "Engaging the rest of humanity," The Scientist, 17[15]:8, July 28, 2003. function sendData() { document.frm.pathName.value = location.pathname; result = false if (document.frm.score[0].checked) result = true; if (document.frm.score[1].checked) result = true; if (document.frm.score[2].checked) result = true; if (document.frm.score[3].checked) result = true; if (document.frm.score[4].checked) result = true; if (!result) alert("Please select") return result; } .myradio{background-color : #94bee5} Please indicate on a 1 - 5 scale how strongly you would recommend this article to your colleagues? Not recommended 1 2 3 4 5 Highly recommended Please register your vote

Selling Science

Selling Science

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